A DANGEROUS driver who rammed a car in an attempt to stop his ex-partner leaving has been banned from driving for 18 months.

Nicky Black, 27, chased the woman and her friend down Brunswick Road, on April 10, Sunderland magistrates heard.

Prosecutor John McGlone said the pair ran towards a VW Beetle parked in a nearby cul-de-sac. When they drove off, Black got into a VW Golf and drove off, swerving in front of the Beetle to force it to stop.

The two vehicles then collided, causing £300 of damage to the Beetle.

Black, of Kingsclere Avenue, Downhill, was uninsured and only held a provisional licence. He was arrested and later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Peter Thubron, defending, said Black had been in an eight-year relationship with the woman, which had recently ended, and the pair have a five-year-old son. He thought the best thing to do was to stop the vehicle. He put his car in front of her’s and there was a collision.”

District Judge Roger Elsey said : “I have to consider the impact of your offending on your victim and her friend who will have been in considerable fear because of your actions.”

Black was given an 18-month community order with supervision and a domestic violence programme.

He was disqualified from driving for 18 months and told to pay £80 costs and a £60 surcharge.